SILCHAR, May 23 � In sync with the rest of the Barak Valley, the people of Silchar on Monday paid homage to the eleven martyrs of the language movement, who sacrificed their lives on the fateful day of May 19, 1961 in police firing at the Silchar railway station.
The 53rd year of the historic movement was observed with reverence. The day began with paying floral tributes at the martyrs column at the railway station. People marched towards Shamshan Ghat to pay tributes to the valiant language martyrs. People also turned out in large numbers at the Swahid Mandir at Gandhi Park at 2:35 pm, the exact time the police firing took place on May 19, 1961.
Various cultural organisations performed street plays, recited poems written on the glories of martyrdom of those brave people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of their mother tongue.
To mark the occasion, the Bhasha Swahid Station Swahid Smaran Samiti organised the Matri Bhasha Utsav 2014. The festival, which began on May 17 ended on May 20. Various artistes, local and those from Bangladesh, performed in the festival. On the sidelines of the occasion, the organisers also renewed their demand for renaming of the Silchar station to �Ekadash Bhasha Swahid Station�.
The Sammilita Sanskritik Mancha, Barak Banga and various other organisations also observed the day amidst songs, recitations, discussions and other activities reliving the spirit of the day.
